Australian tennis player Alex De Minaur secured a spot in the Mexican Open final after his opponent, Jack Draper, retired due to injury. De Minaur faced a challenging match characterized by fluctuations in performance but ultimately emerged victorious as Draper struggled with physical difficulties.
Following Draper’s retirement from the match, De Minaur reflected on the unusual circumstances surrounding his advancement to the final, acknowledging the impact of his opponent’s injury on the outcome.
“It’s never easy to win a match like this, especially when your opponent is unable to continue due to injury,” De Minaur stated, expressing sympathy for Draper’s situation.
The match unfolded with De Minaur initially seizing control, clinching the first set with a score of 6-3. However, he encountered a dip in form in the second set, allowing Draper to stage a comeback and level the match.
Despite facing adversity, De Minaur displayed resilience and determination, regaining his composure in the decisive third set. With Draper visibly hampered by physical issues, De Minaur capitalized on the opportunity, swiftly establishing a commanding lead before his opponent retired from the match.
The final scoreline read 6-3, 2-6, 4-0 in favor of De Minaur, who secured his place in the Mexican Open final.
Jack Draper feeling sick, retires in the biggest semifinal of his career in Acapulco.
Alex De Minaur 6-3, 2-6, 4-0 ret, reaches back to back finals at the event.
9 consecutive wins in this tournament.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) March 2, 2024
The circumstances surrounding Jack Draper’s injury retirement serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of sports, highlighting the importance of physical fitness and resilience for athletes competing at the highest level. Despite the anticlimactic end to the semifinal match, Alex De Minaur’s journey to the Mexican Open final showcases his talent and determination on the tennis court.
Jack Draper in 2024
Currently ranked no.50, Jack played his last match on the 1st of March when he had to retire when playing against world no.9 Alex De Minaur in the semifinal and the scoreline was 6-3 2-6 4-0 .
Presently, during this year the Brit has a 8-4 win-loss record. Jack Draper’s most significant result of the current season was reaching the final in Adelaide.
Draper has scheduled to compete next in Phoenix Challenger (Phoenix Challenger). He will start the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 1st of January.
De Minaur in Acapulco, ranking, and results in 2024
Currently ranked no.9 (career-high), De Minaur has achieved a compiled 14-4 match record in 2024. Alex is now having a run in Acapulco where he conquered the world no.64 Taro Daniel 6-2 6-1, the world no.37 Sebastian Ofner 6-1 6-3, the world no.12 Stefanos Tsitsipas 1-6 6-3 6-3 and the world no.50 Jack Draper 6-3 2-6 4-0 ret..
The Australian got to the final in Rotterdam (ABN AMRO Open).
De Minaur won 7 titles in his career: 6 on hard courts and 1 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
De Minaur will play next in Indian Wells (BNP Paribas Open). He will start the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 4th of March.
Jack Draper and Alex De Minaur fought against each other 3 times. Their current head to head is 3-0 for De Minaur. The last time they locked horns, Alex De Minaur won 6-3 2-6 4-0 ret. in the semifinal in Acapulco (Abierto Mexicano Telcel) on the 1st of March 2024.
Jack Draper and Alex De Minaur |
| Embed from Getty Images |
